Justice Sareen Appointed J

New Delhi, Aug 29 (UNI) Delhi High Court Judge Manmohan Sarin has been appointed Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, it was announced this evening.

The vacancy in the J and K HC arose with the transfer of Chief Justice Kalavamkodath Sivasankara Panicker Radhakrishnan to the Gujarat HC announced by the Law and Justice Ministry last Friday.

The transfer was ordered after presidential consultation with J and K Governor N N Vohra and Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice Radhakrishnan was directed to assume his new position within a fortnight-- by September 6.

Justice Sareen's appointment as Jammu and Kashmir HC Chief Justice is to take effect from the day he assumes charge of his office, the announcement said.

Born in October 1946, Justice Sarin enrolled as an advocate in 1979, practising in Delhi High Court, District Courts or occasionally in the Supreme Court in civil and constitutional matters.

He was appointed Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court in May 1995 and Permanent Judge in December 1996.

In India, a High Court judge retires at 62, and a Supreme Court judge, at 65.